Fish Farming in Kenya

Commercial fish farming in Kenya is not a new business idea. Kenya is endowed with many aquatic resources with successful aquacultural potentials. Highly varied climatic and geographic regions are available in Kenya, covering a part of Indian Ocean coastline, several large rivers, swamps and other water lands, a portion of the largest freshwater lake in Africa and all of those support an abundance of native aquatic species. And all those water sources are contributing much for fish farming in Kenya.

Nowadays, commercial fish farming in Kenya has become a great income source and business idea for the individuals. As a result, numerous commercial fish farms can be seen throughout the Kenya. Some of those fish farmers are farming fish for family consumption and some are farming in large scale for high profit. Al those small or large scale fish farms are contributing much in the total economy and nutrition demands in Kenya.

Benefits of Fish Farming in Kenya

There are many benefits/advantages of fish farming in Kenya. The most important benefits of fish farming in Kenya are listed below.

Weather and geographical location of Kenya is very suitable for fish farming business and setting up commercial fish farming in Kenya.

Numerous species of fishes are available which are highly profitable for fish farming in Kenya.

High demand and price of fish in the market.

Fish is a great source for food and nutrition. You can earn some extra money by setting up a fish farm along with meeting up your daily family demands.

Along with rapid population growth sources of employment are decreasing. Commercial fish farming in Kenya can be a great source of employment for those unemployed people.

The unemployed educated people can also start fish farming. This will create a working opportunities and earning livings.

Commercial fish farming also helps for proper utilizing of water resources of Kenya.

By using modern fish farming techniques, maximum production is possible. This will make the economy strong and ensure availability of required nutritious food.

How to Start Fish Farming in Kenya?

If you are thinking about starting fish culturing in Kenya, you need to consider some important factors that may affect the success and profitability of fish farming business in Kenya. I have mentioned here step by step guide for starting this lucrative business in Kenya.

Selecting Land Area

Selecting a suitable land for fish farming is very important. For commercial production, earthen ponds are very suitable and it is mostly used culture units in Kenya. While selecting lands keep in mind some necessary facilities which are must for fish culture. The necessary facilities for fish farming in Kenya includes a good source of fresh water supply, type of the soil, availability of labors, good transportation etc. Consider the followings while selecting lands for fish farming in Kenya.

Try to select a which is relatively level. Generally, a slope about 1% is ideal. Steeply sloped lands are not suitable for building ponds.

Select the land by keeping in mind your future plans. Try to select a land which is large enough for all your fish farming activities.

Avoid the flooding and polluted areas.

Never select the land very close to crop fields. Because, various types of fertilizers and pesticides are used for crop production. This types of fertilizers and pesticides can causes danger in your fish pond.

It will be better, if the selected land become slightly lower than the water source. This will help you to fill the pond by gravity rather than by pumping. Gravity supplying of water will reduce energy inputs and fish production cost highly.

Ensure availability of a great water source like streams, lakes, rivers, springs etc. near the land. For better fish production, the quality and quantity of water plays a vital role.

Determining the quality of soil also very important. Soil with good quality ensures maximum production. So, the soil of the selected land area must have to good enough for fish culture. Rocky, sandy or gravelly soil is not suitable for constructing a pond. Soil with at least 20% of clay is suitable for holding water and constructing pond. However, after constructing pond apply necessary fertilizers for making the soil suitable enough for fish farming in Kenya.

Suitable transportation systems is must for marketing the fish and buying necessary materials from the market (food, medicines etc.).

A market near the farming land. Transporting the fish so far for marketing will reduce the price and quality of fish and increase the cost. So, select a land from where you can easily market your products.

Pond Design & Construction

After selecting a suitable land for fish farming in Kenya, it’s time to construct a pond. You have to choose a pond design according to fish species you want to produce. Each type of fish species require special types of pond design to grow. After selecting the desired fish species, make a pond that enables your fish to grow happily. Good designed pond according to the fish species ensures good health and maximum production. Contact with your local fishery department to get some suggestions and ideas about pond design that are suitable for each type of fish species.

Selecting Fish Species

Along with good site and well constructed pond and other good facilities, selecting proper fish species is most important. Selecting fish species for fish farming in Kenya depends on the market, climate, weather and farm location. Tilapia fish has a huge demands among all the fish species available in Kenya. And almost all people of Kenya prefer tilapia fish. You can also start culturing some other fish species that has great demands in the market like african catfish, trout, olanda, common carp, various types of carp fish, gold fish, koi fish etc. Keep in mind the followings while selecting perfect species for fish farming in Kenya.

Select those species that has a great demands in the local market.

Select the species that grow faster and more profitable for commercial production.

The species that can easily maintain and grows well in your local weather and climate.

Consider availability of necessary foods for the species.

The species that grows well and take less time to reach marketing weight.

Feeding The Fish

Providing good quality and nutritious food ensures fast growth and maximum production. For commercial fish farming in Kenya, manufactured supplementary fish feeds are must. You can buy the ready-made supplementary fish feeds that are available in the market. In the market you will find various types of fish feed prepared for each type of fish species. For example, if you want to culture tilapia fish then buy feeds from the market which are prepared for tilapia. You can also buy all ingredients separately from the market and mix it at farm. This is a good idea to buy each ingredients separately from the market. Because, sometimes the ready-made feed doesn’t have all necessary nutrient elements, vitamins, minerals, salt etc. This may directly impact the fish production. So, it is a good idea to buy all the elements separately form the market and mix at farm. See fish feed, supplimentary fish feed.

Other Care & Management

Do all tasks timely and accurately. If necessary, change the water of the pond. Examine the quality of water and soil on regular basis. Use proper medicines for each species of fish to keep them healthy and diseases free. Prevent the entrance of predators like snakes, frogs etc. Use net while filling the pond with water.

Collecting Fish

Different species of fish reach marketing weight in different ages. For better price and profit collect the fish in proper time. When the fish reach the marketing weights, you can collect fish form pond by using a net or discharging the total water from the pond.

Marketing

Almost all people love to eat fish and there is already a suitable market for fish. You can easily sell fish in your local market. Fish also has a great demand in the international market. Following tips will be effective for marketing fish and gaining more profits from fish farming in Kenya.

After collecting fish from the pond, send them to the market as soon as possible. Doing late can decrease the quality.

For maximum price of your products, you can separate different sized fish. For example, separate the fish into three groups. Small, medium and large.

Never transport the fish so far for getting more value. Sending far will damage the quality of fish and decrease the value instead of being benefited.

Local markets are very suitable for marketing. But if foreign export available then you can try international markets.

Fish farming in Kenya is really a lucrative business idea. If you are thinking about starting this business along with your current profession, then you have to get a training about fish farming in Kenya and visit numerous fish farms practically. Have a good day!

Hello Parashanta
Am stating fish farming in a pond, and am living in Dar es salaam Tanzania, I want to be a big farm on fish, I luck good seed of Tilapia also knowledge and if possible a partinership as we have a very big market here and Congo DRC

You have to find and contact with your nearest fisheries centers (KENYA MARINE AND FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE or KWS) to get more information about fish farming. It will be better if you can visit a successful fish farmer on your area and learn more from him/her. You know, practical experience is priceless and you must have to visit some farms to get more information about fish farming. Thank you!!

Thanks for the edifying dossier on fish farming management practices.
l am a graduate in fisheries mgnt & aquaculture tech.
i would like to learn much more in aquaculture through seminars and workshops.if you know of such events please inform me .

Hello! I am interrested into This business too and would like to grow catfish and Tilapia in DRC because There is good market here. Can someone help me plz with the experience? Contact me on whatsapp on This number +243995777777

I have this great love for fish since i was a child when i used to fish upcountry in a river.Recently I discovered the market of fish there is so crazy.High demand good price.I Want to start fish farming n my grandpa has already given me a piece of land 3acre bt I dont know the cost of constructing even 1 pond,just give me rough figure an estimated one.Please HELP

It’s really very tough to tell you the exact amount. Because it depends on various factors and also vary form place to place. On an average, you will need around $10000-$25000 for constructing an one acre pond. Thank you!

Hey, I was wondering,
1) what’s the density for tilapia. like how small scale can I go while breeding tilapia?
2) can one construct a fish pond from tanks or must it be dug into the ground?
3) whats the ideal climate for tilapia?
4) what can be done for water, since I don’t Live near a water sources. can I set up water tanks and a pump maybe to get that water flowing?
5) what are the best brands for fish feed?
Thank you In advance.

1) You can stock 1 fish per square feet.
2) There are no exact rules. You can either go with tanks or choose earthen pond.
3) Your location is suitable for this fish.
4) You don’t need to make water flowing system. You have to reserve water in the tank or pond for growing Tilapia fish.
5) We can’t recommend any brand. Please consult with any existing farmer in your area for good suggestion.
Thank you!

Yes, you can use bore hole water. Constructing a small pond is easy. You can either construct earthen pond or concrete pond. Please contact some existing farm in your area for having more ideas. Thank you!

Hi,i live in Rodi Kopany,Homa Bay. I have a pond with spring water coming from underneath. The pond is soo big it host up to 4000 fingerlings of tilapia..my question is,do i cut down the plants growing on the pond banks or do i let them be? 2. My grandfather used to rear tilapia in the same waters. Recently when i harvested,there were only small kind of tilapia..why is this ? Is it the type that i have to change or? Thank you!

Jimmy,
Small size tilapia may be due to a lot of factors.
1, Stress due to overcrowding? Best stocking rate is around 1-2 fingerlings per M2.
2. Food, How are you manageing your pond? Are you fertilizing it? External Feeding?
3. How is your water Quality? In terms of disolved oxygen (DO), Acidity and Hardness.
4. Are you stocking only monosex tilapia? Like all males only or are you in mixed sex where they breed and the available pond resources in terms of feed, oxygen become less for them?

I am in kericho.kindly direct me to the nearest fish farm.I need more close training.plus available contacts persons or office.
I am soo interested inn the fish farming business.I have no prior solid information.
thank you

I want to start a fish farming project in Muranga County, on a 7metres by 14 metres space. Kindly advice and also for the type of weather and what type of fish that you would mostly recommend.
Thanks.+

I consruted a concrete pond 7ft by 5 ft well plastered with waterproof cement, filled it with water from a borehole slightly salty but so slight that you can drink it. got some tilapia from a nearby dam. the fish were well but after 2 weeks the water turned green and soon all the fish were floating.
note.
since we had no feeds my children tried to feed them with waste from maize posho meal.

hello, my name is juzer, and i deal with pond liners and all types of fishing nets for harvesting.
if you need to construct a fish pond, i can help you out.
for more info call me on 0796035085 or email me at [email protected]

I am the manager at kanyakine fish factory and we buy and sell farmed fish and also offer fish farming trainings to get the best quality of fish. we are located within Meru County. anyone in need of any help can enquire from us.